420 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



his own were all sound, except a strip about eight feet from the 

 fence. His nearest drain was forty feet from the fence. 



The President thought there was a great deal in what was said 

 about drying potatoes. Farmers used to cut potatoes and let the 

 pieces lie till they dried before planting. If the water dried out 

 of the potatoe, and it had to extract it again from the soil, still it 

 would come in again in a different condition. 



NEW SUBJECT. 



Dr. Trimble said he had received a letter asking an answer 

 from the Club in regard to an application for the curculio. He 

 moved the subject be considered at the next meeting. Agreed to. 



Adjourned. 



Jipril 15, 1861. 

 Mr. William S. Carpenter in the chair. 



BEMEDIES FOR THE CURCULIO. 



Mr, Pardee presented a letter from Mrs. T. B. Hurlbut, in which 

 she states that she has been for a long time trying to find 

 a remedy for the ravages of the curculio among plum and other 

 fruit trees. In her garden were a number of fine plum trees, 

 which for several years were completely denuded of fruit from the 

 attacks of this insect. At length, as no good conld be done to 

 the trees, it was resolved to cut them down, a purpose which was 

 carried out. But there was one tree which stretched its arms 

 over an apple tree, which had also been destroyed by the insect ; 

 this tree her daughter begged off, and it was therefore spared. 

 That winter she made a composition of sulphur simmered in 

 grease, which, when cold, was applied to the tree. The result 

 was, that last summer her daughter came to her and joyfully 

 informed her that the plum and apple tree were both bearing 

 beautiful fruit. The best way of applying the preparation to 

 the tree was by laying it on slips of canton flannel and tying it 

 on to the tree. She was of opinion that this would prove a 

 valuable remedy, and therefore brought it to the notice of the 

 Club. 



Dr. Trimble brought to the attention of the Club a recipe pub- 

 lished in the "New York Observer," which was communicated to 



